Taking the MCAT is one of the most stressful parts of getting into medical school. Of course, there are ways to prepare so that you can walk in on test day with confidence. Here are 3 ways to prepare for the MCAT.
1. Take practice tests
One fantastic option for potential medical students is to take old versions of the MCATs. You can find one available online on the official website. This will give you a great idea of what score you would receive if you took the test right then. Don’t worry if it’s not the score that you want. That’s why you’re studying! You’ll also learn the types of questions that you will see on the test. Be sure to learn the answer to every question and how they arrived at the answer. After you’ve went through all of the answers, look for additional practice tests.
2. Focus on your weak areas
Everyone taking the MCATs has different strengths. As a study method, it’s a good idea to recognize the areas that you need to work at the most and focus on those areas. When you’re feeling down, it’s a good idea to switch it up and brush up on an easier area of focus to give yourself a break while continuing to study. After you regain some confidence, it’s important to go back to the challenging material. Keep in mind that if you avoid the things that are difficult for you to make studying easier, you’re only hurting yourself in the long run.
In order to know your strengths and weaknesses, you need to know the different sections of the MCAT. The sections are:
- Biological and biochemical foundations of living systems
- Chemical and physical foundations of biological systems
- Critical analysis and reasoning skills
- Psychological, social, and biological functions of behaviour
Take a practice test or two to learn where you excel and where you need to study more.
3. Take a MCAT prep class
Medical school is an extremely competitive environment. In order to get an upper hand on the competition, it’s a good idea to take the time to take a MCAT prep class. You will have access to more resources than you can get for free online. You will also have a structured study program to ensure that you stay focused. Of course, you should also take time to study outside of the prep class if you truly want to excel. You may also meet people that you can study with. Yes, medical school can be competitive, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t help each other.
Being a doctor is extremely admirable, and you will be a great asset to the community and come home from work every day knowing that you’ve helped people. Of course, you have to pass the MCATs first. If you put in the effort, you should be able to get a score that will get you into a great medical school.
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